It was a strange, sad and surreal afternoon as the Amen Corner slowly filled up. The “reserved”” sign was in front of my stool, and I slipped it in the basket with the napkin-wrapped silverware on the other side of the bar. We had a chance to talk to Tracey and Brian and Kate, and talk about what was coming with Jasper and Marvin behind the bar, and chestnut-haired Liz-with-an-S who was back from a lawyering trip to the Great Plains. Marvin was not coming on shift until five PM, and he volunteered to run down to the 7-11 and get Mega Million lottery tickets, just in case. We all bought at least one.

Here is what the group looked like as the flow of drinks changed the mood from somber to merry. It was the First Farewell to a place that has served as clubhouse, living room, therapy couch, and incidentally, fine dining venue:

(L-R, bottom row: ld Jim, Chanteuse Mary, The Lovely Bea, Tracey O’Grady, Heather 2, Liz-with-an S, Vic. Back Row: Intern Meghan, Jon-without-an-H, Brian and The Master Chief.)

First farewell of the last ten days at Willow. I will keep you posted on how they go.